Compound fracture

Compound fracture is a type of bone fracture where the bone pierces the skin, resulting in an open wound. This type of fracture is also known as an open fracture. Compound fractures are serious injuries that require immediate medical attention.

Causes

Compound fractures are usually caused by high-impact trauma, such as car accidents, falls from a height, or sports injuries. The force of the impact causes the bone to break and pierce the skin.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a compound fracture include severe pain, visible bone protruding from the skin, bleeding, and swelling. In some cases, the person may also experience shock.

Treatment

The treatment for a compound fracture involves surgery to repair the bone and clean the wound to prevent infection. The person may also need antibiotics and a tetanus shot. After surgery, physical therapy may be needed to help regain strength and mobility.

Complications

Possible complications of a compound fracture include infection, nonunion (where the bone does not heal properly), and nerve damage.

Prevention

Preventing compound fractures involves taking safety precautions to avoid high-impact trauma. This includes wearing protective gear when playing sports, using seat belts in cars, and taking care when working at heights.

Compound fracture Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? WikiMD's DocFinder can help find general and specialist physicians.	Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials.